So, my last posting left you floating through the mangroves swamp of the Sunderbans in South Western Bangladesh….let’s see a few (actually, a lot) more photos:

Wildlife

Going for a walk, with the support of some armed guards in case a tiger decides to appear. Unfortunately the closest we got to a tiger was seeing some tiger poo

Riverside

Lots of locally made honey here. One guy on the tour bought 10kg!

A viewing tower

A particularly muddy walk to see some tiger mounds (dry hillocks where the tigers chill)

Two photos of the MOON

Just after I took this photo, one of the group managed to take a tumble into the muddy water. Was quite funny, although his SLR also went for a swim

Lovely clouds before the storm

Lots of food on board, which was most Bangladeshi, and mostly excellent

The BBQ

After a few days floating around the deserted swamps, it was time to return to civilisation (although I use that term loosely). Its easy to see how so many people are affected by the annual floods

We docked at Khulna, where we had an hour to visit the local market – five of us hitched a lift on this

Khulna station

Market

This kid was overjoyed when I took this photo! He’s bashing ice in the bag to make drinks

After a final dinner on the boat, it was off on the (delayed) overnight train to Dhaka. Old British rolling stock. That kid saw me focusing, and ran into the photo!

It was very cold, and very bright – I slept with a towel over my head…it was just about bearable

During the cruise I got talking to the guide about travelling (what else). He managed to convince me to extend my time in Bangladesh. I had originally booked 1 week in Bangladesh, and 1 week in Nepal. I thought that I might as well stay longer in Bangladesh and “do” it properly, rather than rush through 2 countries and not see enough. I knew my Biman flight was changeable for free, so with his help, I pushed back my flight to Kathmandu by 5 days. One benefit of doing this (from an a.net perspective) is that my flight would now be operated by an A310, rather than a B737 (was a DC10 when I first booked, but unsurprisingly it was changed…).

As such when I got back to Dhaka, I made a beeline for the domestic terminal to make some new flight bookings.

Thankfully the train from Khulna actually stopped at the Airport station, so it was an easy connection. Having had a look at the schedules are fares, I booked a one way flight to Cox’s Bazar on United Airways, then a return from Chittagong to Dhaka on Regent Airways. I also took the opportunity to reconfirm my Biman flights for later in the week to Kathmandu. Thankfully the A310 was still shown as operating.

With my tickets in hand, I proceeded through security. Unfortunately as it was only 8am, and my flight wasn’t until 1pm. Thankfully I found some wifi from somewhere, so could pass the time reasonably easily. I also managed to get access to the airside café to get some rather unappetising food for the wait

At 11am I was able to check in. I asked for a window at the front and got 4A, which was a far forward as anyone was assigned for some reason. Assuming we’d be on a Dash, I was surprised to hear that it was an ATR – nice to have a bit of variation.

Security was very quickly and I was soon in the departures lounge. The domestic terminal is built behind the VIP area, so there are no tarmac views to be had.

My boarding pass

Airside

Due to the bad weather earlier in the day, things seemed to be running rate. We were eventually called to board at around 1330, half an hour behind schedule.

At the door I was offered a choice of sweets – after reading Abrelosojos report, I went with the Shahi Deluxe, which was just a mix of local mouth freshener spices, quite tasty.

Cabin

Legroom

Defunct GMG neighbours

Prop

TG leaving

Heading to the active

Off we go nearly an hour late

I’m guessing that’s Tahitian?

It was pretty choppy up above – the two cabin crew walked up and down a few times, although there was no inflight service.

Coming in to land

Awful logo, and terrible tagline

Not in best shape

My seat pocket was empty, but some did have some magazines

Thankfully no one seemed bothered about my photo taking. As we disembarked, I was surprised to see one attendant standing at the door with a basket of drinks (fruit juice cartons and water) and some packaged cakes. Rather odd to only have service on the ground, but this seems to be the Bangladeshi way!

Tarmac

As I was one of the last off, I just waiting in the sunshine for the luggage to be wheeled over. Rather than waiting indoors. With my bag in hand, I walked out the gate (yes, straight from the tarmac to car park!) and onto a tuktuk.

I’d only researched accommodation that morning on my phone waiting to check in. I’d found the Mermaid Eco Resort, which looked very nice, although it was a bit far from town. Driving down the World’s longest beach:

Whilst the pictures make the place look very nice, there were plenty of niggling issues which very quite annoying. For example, electivity was only on from 1800-2300. Not such a problem, BUT there was just one switch in the cottage. So turn it on, and you can have electricity (room and bathroom lights, and fan and plug sockets). Turn it off, and no lights, no fan, no electricity. It’s either all or nothing, so no charging stuff whilst the lights are off, no sleeping with the fan on. Grrrr.

“Banana Pistol”

Day room

Bedroom

Bathroom

Hammock

Without doubt, the best thing about the place was the food. YUM.

I saw this little new-born mousey thing – so sweet. Parents nowhere to be seen

Common Areas

When it’s dry, they show films here

My first two nights were accompanied by some terrific thunderstorms. This was the best photo I got though. Truly amazing to watch

The resort is on the coast, but you have to get a boat to the beach.

It was long and very empty

My sandcastle

There were thousands of these little red crabs – man, they can run fast!

I hired a bike (not easy) for a few hours – lovely experience, and very far removed from the roads of the city

The other side of “Banana Pistol”

On my third and final night I was informed about the approaching tsunami. “I beg your pardon? The WHAT?!?!” Having just left Indonesia’s recovering Banda Aceh, I was not really looking forward to experiencing a tsunami first hand. I was told everyone would be meeting in the lobby at 2230. I duly packed an emergency bag, and then left my big bag in the bathroom on top of the toilet (I figured that as the only room with brick walls, it might be a bit more secure there….)

I was extremely relieved (although still a bit cautious) to find out at 2230 that there was no tsunami. Phew. I went back to “Banana Pistol”, but stayed up on the porch for a few hours just in case I needed to run.

The next morning, I checked out (with everything looking exactly like it had yesterday, sans tsunami), and got a bus up to Chittagong. Keeping it brief, the journey

The next morning, I checked out (with everything looking exactly like it had yesterday, sans tsunami), and got a bus up to Chittagong. Keeping it brief, the journey was awful. Very fast, very long, very noisy, and with some nice monsoon weather to accompany it.

I eventually made it to Chittagong., where I got a very acceptable hotel room – clean, cold, and with wifi.

The next morning another monsoon/cyclone thing had blown into town. Quite scary to watch. I saw an electricity pylon being blown over in a shower of sparks.

It dried up (thankfully), and I went exploring

Setting up for tomorrow New Year celebrations

Everyone loves a game of cricket!

View from the top of the “posh” hotel

I managed to track some a beer in the nearby posh hotel. £5 for a can of Heineken!

My tasty Indian dinner at Hanoi (I think their geography could do with a spruce up)

After 2 nights in Chittagong, it was time for my Regent Airways flight back to Dhaka. The approach to the airport:

An observation deck! Of course it was too good to be true as it was padlocked shut

I arrived about 15 minutes before check in opened. When it did open, I was checked in quickly, and given a window seat near the front.

Unlike on the previous flight, the Regent staff were pretty good. their uniforms were more Westernised, and the service more comprehensive.

Biman F28 also going to Dhaka (late)

This is an ex-Augsburg Airlines plane

Off we go

It was a beautiful day for flying – a wold removed from yesterdays mini-cyclone

Definitely used to be German!

A sandwich, peanuts, a sweet and a mango thing. Very nice! Soft drinks were also offered.

Cruising

Boarding pass

Approaching Dhaka

I’d have loved a ride on this 744 – looks like it has engine trouble. I read somewhere that it’s operated by Air Atlanta Icelandic, and costs $5,000/hour to operate.

Goodbye!

Tarmac scenes

Baggage reclaim

Well, I’ll leave this part here, and pick up next time with some new year celebrations, Bangladesh style!

What did I think? Well, Regent were very nice. Good service, with friendly staff. United – I’m not sure if their odd “not in the air” service was due to the weather or not. Cox’s Bazar, a nice break from Bangladesh. Chittagong, not the most interesting of cities.

Nice reports as usual! What a great trip you've had in Bangladesh! Your accommodation in Cox's Bazar looks nice!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter):On my third and final night I was informed about the approaching tsunami. “I beg your pardon? The WHAT?!?!” Having just left Indonesia’s recovering Banda Aceh, I was not really looking forward to experiencing a tsunami first hand. I was told everyone would be meeting in the lobby at 2230. I duly packed an emergency bag, and then left my big bag in the bathroom on top of the toilet (I figured that as the only room with brick walls, it might be a bit more secure there….)

Some nice photos as well, great to see pictures of the hard-to-reach places!

Quoting ronerone (Reply 6): You really showed us a different side to Bangladesh, one which i would assume no one would imagine. Tropical perhaps, but serene i definitely did not think it would be! And those red crabs! WoW!

Yeah, it's quite the country

Quoting ronerone (Reply 6): Out of your flights, what caught my attention the most was the Tahitian safety label on the seats! Definitely from French Polynesia, but the aircraft wear and tear probably isn't! haha

I imagine flying domesitcs in Bangladesh is about as tough as shuttling between those gorgeous islands!

Excellent report! I've found you destination reports, and pictures, really fascinating. Bangladesh has always been off the radar for me, except maybe when around Brick Lane It does look intriguing, shabby chic. Or just shabby. Still, the food looks delicious!

United looks, well, like the rest of the country... Still, it's an experiance! Shame about the tsunami warning - for such a low lying country, without the Dutch technology for retaining water, it could be dangerous. At least it passed, and good that there are at least warning systems in place.

Quoting signol (Reply 10):Bangladesh has always been off the radar for me, except maybe when around Brick Lane It does look intriguing, shabby chic. Or just shabby. Still, the food looks delicious!

MM, I need to pay a visit to Brick Lane now I'm back! Still don't fancy eating with my hands though.

Quoting signol (Reply 10):Shame about the tsunami warning - for such a low lying country, without the Dutch technology for retaining water, it could be dangerous. At least it passed, and good that there are at least warning systems in place.

Well, the warning systems is one bit of good to come out of the 2004 disaster

Great report, thanks for sharing!
It was very interesting to follow up your Bangladesh story!
Great too see a report on the less famous United as well, just the service at the end while disembarking was a bit odd indeed.

Hi Gab - another great instalment. These must be the first if not only reports on these two Bangladeshi airlines. I've not found any others. Interesting to see how those flights went. Nice to read especially about your Dash 8 flight too!

The destination pics, were as always, fascinating. I don't think Bangladesh is a country I have a burning desire to visit but I really enjoyed reading about your travels there. Good thing there was no tsunami.

Hope that guy's camera was working again (after he took a fall)? That would be perhaps my worst nightmare while travelling.

Quoting palmjet (Reply 14): The destination pics, were as always, fascinating. I don't think Bangladesh is a country I have a burning desire to visit but I really enjoyed reading about your travels there. Good thing there was no tsunami.

Yes, lucky about the tsunami.

Quoting palmjet (Reply 14): Hope that guy's camera was working again (after he took a fall)? That would be perhaps my worst nightmare while travelling.

Quoting Sultanils (Reply 15): Nice exotic report once again: from the region visited through the flights taken. A really off the beaten path journey. You will be in for a surprise once you get back to the more Westernized world

Good to see you moving along your journey. Now something off the beaten path, a couple of obscure airlines offering interesting looking domestic Bangladeshi flights plus great shots from the bushes. Very much liked this episode!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter):So, my last posting left you floating through the mangroves swamp of the Sunderbans in South Western Bangladesh….let’s see a few (actually, a lot) more photos:

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter):Thankfully the train from Khulna actually stopped at the Airport station, so it was an easy connection.

I'll be damned! First of all I had no idea Bangladesh had any operational trains but they even have a stop serving the main airport in the country! Every day is a school day! That carriage looks kinda weird - better than the pictures I've seen from Indian trains but still quite third world...

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter):Thankfully no one seemed bothered about my photo taking. As we disembarked, I was surprised to see one attendant standing at the door with a basket of drinks (fruit juice cartons and water) and some packaged cakes. Rather odd to only have service on the ground, but this seems to be the Bangladeshi way!

Hmm, that's interesting. Since the main point of inflight meals and service is to keep the passengers from getting bored and make the time go faster why couldn't they then hand these before the flight?

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): With my bag in hand, I walked out the gate (yes, straight from the tarmac to car park!) and onto a tuktuk.

Hah, reminds me of Odessa airport in Ukraine. Or pretty much all the regional airports there actually!

Love the logo! Was Indian food all they served or maybe they had a single dish of Pho or something to justify the name? Come to think of it there is a Turkish pizza/kebab joint in Helsinki called "Barbarossa", no idea where the hell they got that name from...

And you know what? It is ex-D-BLEJ which I actually flew once, MUC-WRO back in 2006! A very interesting coincidence for you to catch a ride with her six years later on a completely different setting!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter):A sandwich, peanuts, a sweet and a mango thing. Very nice! Soft drinks were also offered.

And these were actually offered *during* the flight?

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter):I’d have loved a ride on this 744 – looks like it has engine trouble. I read somewhere that it’s operated by Air Atlanta Icelandic, and costs $5,000/hour to operate.

Great TR with pictures, I am reading all your parts. Looking forward to the next bit. BTW for the CGP-DAC you got a mix up of the flight details from the previous leg I guess. Some places like you have visited, I will never get to.

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): Good to see you moving along your journey. Now something off the beaten path, a couple of obscure airlines offering interesting looking domestic Bangladeshi flights plus great shots from the bushes. Very much liked this episode!

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): I'll be damned! First of all I had no idea Bangladesh had any operational trains but they even have a stop serving the main airport in the country! Every day is a school day! That carriage looks kinda weird - better than the pictures I've seen from Indian trains but still quite third world...

Well it's not like there is a regular/reliable shuttle from the airport to the city, but yes, some trains do stop at the airport

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): What did you do with this disgusting vermin offspring? You know it will grow up to be a nuisance!

Awhh, so cold hearted P! I left it there to chillax before the tsunami. Was gone in the morning

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): Finnish prices, shocked! I bet you can get a couple of nice meals for that amount of money in Bangla?

The steak was cheaper in there than the beer!

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): Very nice to see that FlyDubai 738 there. They certainly fly to some very interesting destinations.

Yup, was nice to see - lovely livery

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): And you know what? It is ex-D-BLEJ which I actually flew once, MUC-WRO back in 2006! A very interesting coincidence for you to catch a ride with her six years later on a completely different setting!

once again a great and enjoyable read about your adventures. Really nice to see the pictures of Bangladesh, not exactly a tourist hotspot, must have been very exciting to explore. That bungalows at the beach in Cox Bazar look like a great place to relax, basic, quiet, but with everything you need and delicious looking food. And these small problems definitely adds to the experience. No problems with mosquitoes though?

Interesting to read about the 'United' experience, never heard of having the catering after the landing. And their tagline is indeed strange, I kind of like their colorful logo though. The other flight with Regent seemed to be quite decent with food offered actually during the flight

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 23):
once again a great and enjoyable read about your adventures

Thanks

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 23):That bungalows at the beach in Cox Bazar look like a great place to relax, basic, quiet, but with everything you need and delicious looking food. And these small problems definitely adds to the experience. No problems with mosquitoes though?

No mossie probems. It was a nice place to chill out

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 23): The other flight with Regent seemed to be quite decent with food offered actually during the flight